Boiler-water-level indicator



Dec. 6, 1927.

. 1, 52,001 J. E. DOERING BOILER WATER LEVEL INDICATOR Filed Dec. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [n vznzor fuuusEDosewe J. E. DOERING BOILER WATER LEVEL INDICATOR Dec. 6,1927. 1,652,001

Filed Dec. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v WPPM Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

mi -D RING F. m mser BQILEB-W ER- E EL nimcsrenj P Application filed December 1 92 1. Seri eI m5. sleeve.

,This'invehtion relatesto new: and useful improvements in boiler ater-flevel'"indica tors-.d r Itx-is conimonin present boiler'praot c-e,

5 p artieularlyfwhere" steam 'of moderate pre'ssureis employed, to havea vertical glass tube atta'ch'ed' to the boiler in suchpiosi t'ion that t-he" level*ofthe wa'ter the boiler is shown by a corresponding level in: the glass 10 tube. Visual indication s thus had of the stated the water -level at all'times'. Where lugh-pressure boilers are employed the gl'e'ss gauge is i somewhat dangerous and thus rm-'- pra'et'icable due to the liztbll it'y' ofbreakege' pereture and pressure. l V

In carrying out this invention use 1s made of the fact ofdifierence in ten pe'retur'e between the. Water in aboiler and tlie fstea'ni 2O confined therein. The "latter has 'a relatively higher temperature." Ilse pl es heretofore been made of this principle'hythe employin because fof the I greater; fluctuation in' temv ment of a tube at the; "desired Water-level "which tube contains another noncommunieating interior tube conne'oted'toa, pressure indicator. Ihe interior Itube confines Water and air which iseXp'a-ndfed by the'presence of water or steam in theouter tube. 'I he indicator denotes pressure of theconfiii'ed air so that when there isija difierentialbetween I the boilerpressure and "the: indicator pressure then 'fth'e Water-level is below norme]; 'A; great disadvanta e of this't'y'pe of water-level indicator, "in addition to inultiplicity ofparts', is 'thatthere is a thermal lag inthe tubes Withfth'e result that the indicator is not "sensitive nor li esponsive enough. 40 sible element or nieinher'ls inounted'so'fithat the element is subjected to temperature changes'pro duced by v'erianee inthe r'elztti've aiinountsof waterhnd stea'ni the v boiler injeoinhinzttion"with rnfe'iins showing the expanded condition of fthe element dicated. More ;specifia11 ,,atubu1sr Inferriber is supported adjacent the boiler} and Textending iibore and below the no r'ihatl jritte'r; level thereof and coniniunieefing with the upper lend pwr portionslof the boiler whereby the' relative I l npo unts of ater t a JiDQthBtu ul r memb r m'm' p n pointed out ii'nithe annexed'elaimsy In this improved app aratus5 an'ex panwhereby thewater-levehof the boiler is intherelative aniounts'of weter andsteam in theboi'ler; Thi'sineniber isadaptedte ex-* pend andco'ntrac't longitudinally tin response to temperature "changesproduceel by changes in :tliereletive a ounts-d mes andifsteirrn in the 'niemberaindfmeens are employedto indicate the "longitudina -1" expansion-er con= tractionof the member hereby the writerlevelotthe'boiler 'isfindieatedif' The object therefore of this invention is to "provide enfiniprov'ed boifle r' 'weter level indieator. L

Otheifl objects of-the invention will more fulfi appearf fronithe follow ingq description 1 and the acco panying drawings arid W! "In the drawings there has been di solosed a structure designed to Gerry out theobjeicts ofithe invention but' it is 'tobe understood that the invention is noticonfinedto'fthe ex apt features' shownnsi various; ch'en'ges ma he made Within the seo'pe'of the iclai hs which followl v In the drawings: i'

"Figure'l is a View in side elevation and partially in vertic'ztl' 'setion 'oftlie "indicator in positionedjacent arr-automobile boiler;

. Figure- 2 is a plan View" of the "gauge "and r f I 'Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 0'15 Figure'l; and 1 Figure bis a detail View in side elevation and partiaflly 'vertigarseetioif of 2i iii'iodi fiedf form of the apparatus adapted for use with other typeset holders." 7

"In this *selectedeinb dim'ent'of theinvention, there is shownf'a"boiler 5"of a type conimonly emplb da present vste-a-mfifitd; V

mobiles, the usualunounting" ofth'e" boiler upon the chessis of the automobile being om ttedes such construttion forms no" part of this invention. The fexpaiisihle element is provided "by it tubulzii ineiiilor" sucli esthe th boiler at .incli'net i the I pipe 6 pre fe relily tr brass; This pipe inlay, advantageously "be iiounte'd ad' 1 'e This pipe 6 is mounted adjacent the boiler and is conveniently carriedt-hereby. As hereshown, the pipe 6 is supported by the upper and lower tubes whichafi ord communication between the interior of the boiler and the interior of the pipe (3. These tubes are preferably of copper and the lower tube 7 is secured to the base 8 of the boiler and communicates with the boiler interlor.

The upper end of the tube 7 is flanged in accordance with standard rnactice and is connected ito the lower end of the pipe, a separatepipe section 10 by means of a common form of coupling 9. A. description ol the connection between the pipe section 10 and the lowerend lot the pipe 6 will be later described. Similarly the upper tube 11 is carried bythe boiler, communicates with the interior thereof at the upper portion of the boilerand has its lowerend secured to the upper end portion of thepipe 6by means of. a novel coupling; 12. Preferably, this upper tube is relatively long, as shown, in order.

to. otter lessened resistance to the thermal movements of the pipe 6. This pipe 6 is shown in Figure 1 as having three curves although other curves or convolutions may be given the. pipe to diminish resistance to pipeulovement. Theposition otthe pipe 6 is such that it extends .above and below the plane of the normal ,water-level 13 of the boiler. Thus, as the water-level in the boiler rises or falls, the water-level in the tube will accurately correspond due tothe free communication provided between the interior of the boiler and the pipe 0. Obviously, any increase in the amount ofsteam in the boiler and pipe .with relation to the amount of water therein results in increased temperature of the pipe and attendant expansion. Conversely, relatively lessened steam results in the pipe contraction. Furthermore, it

7 may be noted that it is advisable so to mount the pipe that itis exposed tothe atmosphere and thus to normal temperatures. The working temperatures of both the water and steam are, of course, greatlvin excess of usual atmospheric ten'iperatlu'es. Such exposure.ns here showm results in added responsi eness and sensitivencss of the pipe to contraction. 1

Means are provided toindicalc the expanded condition of the pipe so tl at the water-level of the boileriis indicated. As here shown, the coupling 12 which is received. in threaded engagement upon the upper cud of the pipe 6 is provided with an integral stem 14 outwardly and upwardly projecting; therefrom. Such stem is therefore upwardly and downwardly moved in direct proportion to longitudinal movements otthe pipe 6. This stem is longitudinally movable in a guide block 15 mounted in a recess in the head 16 preferably cast integral with a bracket 17. A bar 18 is mounted in substanmeans of the screws oi this clamp is pl'OVltlttl with a U-shaped to rcceive the trunnions 23 of the sleeve 24.)

received in il'llOilLlQCl engagement upon the lower end portion of the pipefi and sour larly engaging the threaded upper end of the pipe section 1.0.

Indicating means are provided a lever mechanism operated by the stem 14. Two forms of such indicating devices and connections areherc shown, that shown in Figuresl and 2 beingadapted foruse with a dash-board indicator for a steam-driven automobile. while the simpler form shown y pointer adapted to be actuated by means 0t in Figure 4 is adapted forgeneral use where the pointer need not have its axis substan tially parallel to the axis of the pipe. In the term shown for automobile boilers,

the bracket 17 is formed with an ()iliSQtPOYF tion 25terminally apertured to receive in threaded engagement, the lower portion of a sleeve 26 which is preterably an integral extension of the gauge casing 27. The

bracket portion 25 held in position by.

means oi the nut 28. while the sleeve 26 is passed througl'i an flptltlllfi in the daslior instrument-board29 of the automobile and held by means of the spacing members 3.. and clan'ibine nut/32 received in threaded ei'igznreuient upon the sleeve 26. The pointer ST do is nctuable indirectly by. movements of the stem 14-. A lever 3a is mountedadjacent one end upon the pivot pin 35 carried by the bracket 17 andis engaged on its under tare by the stem 14. The outer end of the lever 34: carries an apertnred block 36 through which is passed a rod 37 fixedly held to the lever block by means oi" the nut 38. 'lhe rod 537. u nvardly extending. passes through the sleeve ill and at its upper end is provided with a head 5) (formed by a terminally enlarged portion having a running guiding fir in. the sleeve. The head 3!) cn- 51a ges the arm 41. of abell-crank level pivotally mounted on the casing 27. The other arm 42 of this lover is terminally provided with opposed outwardly projecting pins 4? pivotally engaged by the bifurcated end of a curved bar 44 pivotally secured at its other end to the pin 45 carriedin threaded engagement by the extension 46 of the gear sector} 7. This sector 47 is mounted to turn on its pivotpin 18 provided by the casing The section isprovided with arcuately disposed teeth tomesh with the teeth of the pinion 49 fast on the pivot pin 51 carrying the pointer 33. In accordance with standard practice, suitable indicia may be inscribed upon the nner face the ,base of the gauge tofunction as a dial.

The lever 84 is preferably tensiona-bl downwardly held in engagement with the stem 14. This is conveniently effected by mounting a coiled compression spring between the block 36 and a shoulder interiorly per square inch, the steam temperatureis higher than that when employed between four and five hundred pounds. The adjust ment provided is relatively slight and is effected by change of the point of engagement of the stem 14 and the lever 34 with relation to the fulcrum of the lever at its pivot 35. The guide-block 15 is provided with an integral threaded stem 54 passed through a cored-out aperture in the casting,

forming the head 16. A plate 55 is provided with a threaded aperture to 'receive the stem 54 and this plate is adapted to be fixedly held to the upper face of the head 16 by means of the screw 56. When it is desired to make such adjustment, the screw 56 is removed so that the plate 55 maybe rotated upon the stem 54 to attain the desired position of the block 15 with relation to the head 16 and thereafter the plate is again. secured to the head by the screw 56. lVhen the guide-block 15 is downwardly moved from the position shown in Figure 1, the stem 14 is thereby moved nearer to the fulcrum of the lever 34 and hence the same longitudinal movement of the pipe 6 effects lessened movement of the pointer 33, and vice versa. r I

In the general and simpler form shown in Figure 4, the gauge casing 27 is provided with an integral hollow extensionb? within which is provided a pivot pin 58 upon which 1 is mounted the bell-crank lever having oiie arm 59 engaged by the stem 14 andits other arm 60 outwardly projecting into the casing,

provided with a gear sector 61 adapted similarly to mesh with the pinion 49 of the pointer pin 51. The lever is likewise tensionably held in engagement with the stem 14 by means of the similar tension spring 52. In this figure there is shown an ear 62 by means of whiclr't he extension 5.7. may convven entlybe:held by a convenient support such as part of .the boiler.

There is thus provided a simpleand efii- .cient indicator for .boiler wa erlevels. Not

only is it sensitive and responsive to waterlevel changes in the boiler, but itisfrec from the dangers of the present water glass tubes particularly when employed in conjunction with high-pressure boilers. I clann- V 1. Ina boiler water-level 1ndicator,-tlie combination of a tubular member supported adjacent the boiler-and extending above and below the normal water-level thereof, tubular elements providing communication lee-- tween the member interior and the upper and lower portions of the boiler whereby the relative amountsof water and steam in the member correspond to the relative amounts of water and steam in the boiler, saidmeniher being adapted to expand and contract longitudinally in response to temperature changes thereof produced by changes in the relative amounts of water and steam in the member, a lever, and means for pivotally supporting the lever adjacent one end of the member whereby the lever is movable to indicate water level of the boiler, the end of the member being adapted; to engage the lever, and means adjustably to vary the engagement of said member and lever with-relation to the pivot of the lever.

2.1n a boiler water-level indicator, the combination ofa tubular member supported adjacent the boiler and extending above and below the normal water-level thereof, tubular elements providing communication between the member interiorand' the upperand lower portions of the boiler whereby the relative amounts of water and steam in the member correspond to; the relative amounts of water and steam in the boiler, said member being adapted to expand and contract longitudinally in response to temperature changes thereof produced by changes in the relative amounts of waterand steam in the member, a lever, means for pivotally supporting the lever adjacent, one, end of the member and whereby the lever ismovable to indicatewater level of the boiler, an element fixedly secured to the member and projectingtherefrom for operable engagement with said lever at one side of its pivot, a guideblOC1 ffOl' said element adjustably mounted 7 adjacent said lever whereby adjustment of the block varies engagement of the element and lever with relation to the pivotal point of the lever.

3. In a water level indicator for steam boilers, the combination with a boiler and an indicating device remote therefrom, of a thermostatic tube, means whereby said tube .is in open communicationat its ends respectively with the normal water and steam the TIlOVBlnGlli; of the other end of said tube clue to the changes in water level therein to the indicating device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of December, 1921.

JULIUS E. DOERING. 

